March 11 – mothers

^"The angel came to her and said, “You are honored very much. You are a favored woman. The Lord is with you. *You are chosen from among many women.” - Luke 1 NLV

In my opinion, when God made mothers, He produced the most powerful, influential force ever to live. Like potters, mothers mould and shape the 'clay' of a newborn infant. Throughout childhood they kneed, stretch, and when necessary, they 'knock back' the clay when errors occur to reshape their desired design – when grown, an adult of character who loves and serves God and his fellow man. Yet, how many times do you hear a woman answer the question “What do you do then?” reply with, “Me? O, I'm only a mother and housewife.”

William Ross Wallace possibly had these thoughts in his mind when in 1865 he wrote a poem titled “What Rules the World”, that praises motherhood as the preeminent force for change in the world. Most of us are familiar with the poem's refrain - “The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world”. How very true.

Charles Swindoll lists the following characteristics needed by a mother: Transparent tenderness, authentic spirituality, inner confidence, unselfish love, and self-control.

Quite a list, isn't it? Almost more than we should expect. Perhaps that explains why Erma Bombeck used to say that motherhood takes 180 movable parts and 3 pairs of hands and 3 sets of eyes . . . and, I might add, the grace of God. Yet all mothers are not the same. Author and speaker Patsy Clairmont says, “Normal is just a setting on your clothes dryer.” We are all different. She shared that as women we may “struggle, fail, start over, and celebrate.” But we are mothers who can love unlike any other person (CBN).

Kelcie Huffstickler writing about her feelings as she thought about how she was preparing herself for her child to start kindergarten – the dreaded time when she handed control of her daughter to strangers. She was confident she would go with lots of laughs and good memories under her belt, but would she have a strong foundation of knowledge and security on which she could build the rest of her life? Kelcie came up with five foundational truths she hope to instill in her by the time she started school. They are:

1. God is good. This is really the most important truth in the universe, and if we deep-down believe it, all the other pieces fit together. I want my daughter to understand that God is good, and that everything He does is good. It’s our vision that’s often skewed.

When she starts school, she will undoubtedly be faced with struggles and situations that are new to her. I pray her faith is stronger than the questions, the doubts, the fears, and that no matter what darkness she encounters, she knows God is good and that the broken pieces somehow create a masterpiece.

2. Her family will ALWAYS be here for her. I want her to know that she knows that she knows she has unshakeable love and security in her family. We are her people. And though we’re broken and imperfect, we will be here for her every day that she lives. When she messes up. When her friends hurt her feelings. When she gets cut from the team. Her family is here for her and there is nothing that will ever change that.

3. She is perfectly created, unique, and special. I want her to know she’s a one-of-a-kind creation, made exactly the way God wanted her. He gave her her personality, her temperament, her gifts, abilities, and sensitivities because He wants to use her in a special way for a special purpose only she can fulfill.

4. We should love our neighbors as ourselves. To be honest, this is a tough one because it’s probably “caught” more than “taught.” Does she see her daddy and me loving our neighbors without reserve? Do we give freely? Do we speak kindly and view all men as image bearers of God? I hope she can say yes because this is our desire. And we pray she learns to do the same. Even the bully at school. Even the person who looks or smells different. May she love them the way Jesus does.

5. The reason we live is to bring glory to God. I want her to know that our purpose in life is to bring glory and honor to our Creator. It’s the only reason we’re living and breathing on this earth. It’s the reason we get up in the morning, the reason we get married and have children, the reason we go to school or to work, the reason we love our neighbors, use our gifts, and enjoy our families. He is the purpose of it all. I want her to know that everything she does has eternal value so nothing in life is meaningless.

Yes, the hand that rocks the cradle really does rule the world. From the beginning of time this has been true. The Bible, over and over again demonstrates the power of motherhood as they shaped, guided and grounded their children's lives in preparation for their future lives.

There can be no greater illustrations of the power and influence of God-fearing women and rocking cradles than Mary, mother of Jesus, and Elizabeth, her cousin, mother of John the Baptist. John, who was destined to a wilderness life, preparing the way for Jesus. Jesus, to die a sinner's death in our place and give us salvation - our Redeemer.

Never, ever say “Me? O, I'm only a mother and housewife.” Remember, it's your hand on the cradle. What lies ahead for your child!

Click on the picture for today's music – The Isaacs “Walk Together Children”